Totalizing mechanism



A. G. RUSSELL ET AL 2,774,537

TOTALIZING MECHANISM Dec. 18 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet .1

Filed Jan. 12, 1955 NTO U556 ATTORNEY A. G. RUSSELL ET AL 2,774,537

TOTALIZING MECHANISM Dac. 18, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12, 1955 155 1955 A, E ETAL $774,537

TOTALIZING MECHANISM Filed. Jan. 12, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY 2,774,537 TOTALIZlNG MECHANISM Alva G. Russell, Stamford, and William F. Bernart, New

Canaan, Conn, assignors to Pitney-Bowes, Inc., Stamford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application January 12, 1955, Serial No. 481,328 9 Claims. (Cl. 235-139) This invention relates to totalizing mechanisms, and more particularly to those wherein tens transfer movements are to be imparted to register wheels of higher order while the wheels are being operated to accumulate totals.

To accomplish both operations simultaneously, differentially geared numeral wheels of the character disclosed in Patent No. 1,281,163 were most desirable for use along with Geneva transfer pinions which connect each wheel of lower order to a wheel of higher order. However, due to the several gears required for each differential numeral wheel drive, the control of backlash has always presented a problem, particularly when transfer on a transfer occurred across several numeral wheels simultaneously.

During each transfer operation, the Geneva transfer pinion was supposed to rotate a distance suflicient to move the wheel of higher order 3 of a revolution, or 36. Due to lag resulting from the backlash above mentioned, the actual rotation of the wheel of higher order during transfer would be less than 36 and when transfer occurred simultaneously across several wheels it was possible to lose a full digit in the numeral wheel of highest denomination. Each numeral wheel would also be out of reading alignment. Further, the Geneva lock normally attained as a result of the engagement of the Geneva toothed portion of the tens transfer pinion with some peripheral portion of the counter wheel during all but the transfer period, was impossible of continued attainment with the numeral Wheel in either the 9 or 6 position.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide adequate means to control the unfavorable conditions referred to and thus make it practical to accumulate and transfer simultaneously with a group of differentially geared numeral Wheels.

This is accomplished, according to the present invention, by accelerating the movement of the transfer mechanism between the numeral wheel of lower order and that of higher order so that notwithstanding the lag in motion of the numeral wheel of lower order resulting from backlash, the numeral wheel of higher order will receive its full 36 increment of movement.

Another object of this invention is to provide means tending to counteract accumulated lost motion due to backlash, which is accomplished by providing means tending to urge the numeral wheels in advancing direction.

This is accomplished in the form of the invention disclosed herein and at present preferred, by rotating, during the accumulation of a total, the shafts on which the numeral wheels and transfer mechanisms are mounted so that frictional drag between the shafts and the wheels and mechanism mounted thereon will tend to complete the movements of such parts.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

A preferred form of the invention is disclosed in the drawings in which:

Figure l is a plan view with parts broken away and parts in section showing one group of numeral wheels and their transfer mechanisms, and also showing actuating gears connected with each of the several differentially operated numeral wheels;

nited States Patent O Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 22 of Fig. l with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is another vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. l with parts broken away;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are operational views on an enlarged scale showing the position of the transfer teeth of a numeral wheel of lower order relative to the leading tooth of the Geneva lock and gear of the transfer mechanism before a transfer is started, as in Fig. 4, during the transfer operation as shown in Fig. 5, and at the completion of a transfer operation, asshown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 7 is a view of the numeral wheel shown in Fig. 4, and showing the differential gearing therein, with parts broken away and parts in section;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section view taken along the line 88 of Fig. 7; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5, showing the transfer mechanism and its relation to the transfer tooth of a numeral wheel of lower order and with a gear connection with a transfer gear of the numeral wheel of next higher order, the parts being shown in the same positions as in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the register includes a group of numeral wheels 10 and 10a rotatable on a shaft 11 which is supported in the side walls of a frame 12. As shown, there are five numeral wheels 10 which are actuated by evaluating mechanism to accumulate totals and to receive transfer operations and five numeral wheels 10a which only receive tens transfer operations, making a total bank of ten numeral wheels. As shown in Fig. 7, each numeral wheel includes a shell 13 having on its periphery the numerals 14. The totalizer being arranged for the decimal system, the numerals run from 0 to 9. One end of the shell 13 is closed as at 15 while the opposite end has an opening 16 which is closed by means of a disk 17 having a flange 18 pressed within the opening 16 and secured to the shell 13. The disk 17 also includes a raised rib 19 which extends radially outwardly to the peripheral surface 21 of the disk 17, as shown in Fig. 4, and there has two transfer gear teeth 22 providing between them a space 23 which also extends through the periphery of the disk 17 The closed end 15 of the shell 13 has a boss 24, and the latter as well as the rib 19 have circular holes 25 and 26 respectively coaxial with the wheel.

Within each numeral wheel 10 there is a pair of plane tary pinions 27 and 28 rotatably mounted on stub shafts 29 and 31 which have a forced fit in holes in the shell end 15 and disk 17. The pinions 27 and 28 are so mounted as to be in overlapped engagement and are constantly in mesh with each other as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8. The pinion 27 also constantly meshes with a sun gear 32 having a hub 33 passing through the hole 26 in the shell end 15 and having at its outer end a gear 34. The sun gear 32, hub 33 and gear 34 are secured together, and a bore 35 extending through the same forms a bearing on the shaft 11. The hub 33 also forms a bearing for the numeral Wheel.

The other planetary pinion 28 meshes with the sun gear 36 which sun gear has a hub 37 extending through the disk 17 and the hub has a gear 38 at the outer end thereof. A bore 39 through the gear 36, hub 37 and gear 38 forms a bearing on the shaft 11 and the hub 37 forms a bearing for the disk 17.

It will now be apparent that when either one of the gears 34 or 38 is held against rotation and the other one is rotated, rotary movement will be imparted to the numeral wheel through the differential mechanism at a determinate rate, the ratio of movement between the driving gear and the numeral wheel being 2:1 because of the differential action. Also, when both gears 34 and 3 38 are simultaneously rotated, as when accumulating and carrying over to the same wheel at the same time, twice the rotary movement will be imparted to the numeral wheel, so long as the transfer motion continues.

it will thus be understood that the gears 3d and 38 must be held against movement at all times except when it is intended to move them.

As shown in Fig. l, the numeral wheels Eli are spaced along the shaft 11 and are connected by tens transfer mechanisms generally indicated by the reference numeral 4]. Each transfer unit, in addition to the teeth 22 on the numeral wheel of lower order, comprises a pinion 42 having a full complement of teeth, a Geneva lock element 43 having five teeth, and a coupler gear 4 fixed to a hub The hubs 42!: have hearings on a shaft 46 spaced from and parallel to the shaft ill. The coupler gear 44 is in constant mesh with the transfer driving gear 34 of the numeral wheel of higher order while the pinion 42 is in position to be engaged by the transfer teeth 22 on the wheel of lower order, so that when the teeth 22 are moved from the 9 position to the position they will engage the teeth of the pinion 1 2 and cause it to be rotated by transferring one increment of movement to the wheel of higher order. During all other times, however, the coupler gear and the gear 34 are held against rotation by the teeth 43a of the Geneva lock element 43 engaging the circular peripheral surface 2i of the disk 17.

Since the rotary movement to be transmitted to the numeral wheel by the main driving gear 38 could not result in advancing the numeral wheel unless the gear 34 were held against turning or was moved forwardly as when transferring, it is necessary that the gear 34 be locked against movement in both the 9 and the 0 positions thereof, and yet the gear 34 must be unlocked in performing its transfer operations.

For this purpose, lost motion is provided between the gear teeth 22 and the teeth of the pinion 42 to give a Geneva tooth 43a an opportunity to move into the space 23. Likewise, in completing its movement to 0 position, lost motion is provided between the transfer teeth 22 and the pinion 22 so that the numeral wheel can continue to advance after the coupler gear and the gear 34 have been locked. As illustrated, this lost or idle motion of the numeral wheel of lower order is in the order of 3 at each end of the operation, making a total of 6 idle movement out of each increment of 36. However, a full increment of movement must be transferred to the wheel of higher order for each operation of the pinion 42 and coupler gear 44-.

To accomplish this, the present invention provides for increasing the effective pitch diameter of the gear teeth 22 so that, notwithstanding the idle movement of 6 of: the transfer teeth 22, the pinion 42 will be rotated its full increment of movement, in the present case 72.

Thus, if t is to be carried or transferred to wheels of higher order standing at 9, regardless of the number of numeral wheels in the bank, each numeral wheel will be given its full complement of movement save for any loss due to tolerance or tooth clearance in the gearing between the wheels, of which there is considerable in differentially operated numeral wheels.

The coupler gear 44 and transfer driving gear 34 are of the same pitch diameter, that is, there is a ratio of lz'l so that, in transferring, the gear 34 will be operated for 72 of movement which, as pointed out above, is necessary because of the differential to advance the numeral wheel 36.

When transferring through a plurality of numeral wheels standing at 9, the unavoidable lost motion due to tooth clearance can result in the numeral wheels highest orders not quite completing their movement, with the result that the Geneva lock may be in wheel-releasing position. To avoid this dirTrculty, the present invention provides for rotating the shafts ill. and/or as carrying the numeral wheel and transfer gear assemblies in the direction of advancing movement, it having been discovered that the frictional drag between the shafts and the members carried thereby aids in completing the movements of the parts and compensates for the tooth clearance above referred to. It also has been found that this frictional drag between the shafts and the members carried thereby is enhanced as in the case of the tens transfer hubs 4211, due to a slight cocking action which is normally effected by the driving forces applied at one end and similarly in the case of either hub 33 or 37 through the driving force applied to either gear 34 or 38.

As shown in Fig. 1, the shaft 46 has secured to it a gear 47 which meshes with a gear 48 fixed to the shaft it. The gear 43 meshes with an idler E9 meshing with a. gear 5i secured to the hub 6t) of a bevel gear 61 which in turn is driven by a bevel gear 56 on a power driven shaft 62. Actuation of the numeral. wheels to totalize may be effected by any desirable form of actuating mechanism in which the gear 38 is held against turning except when being rotated to totalize. One type of actuator which may be used with the differential numeral wheels disclosed herein is illustrated and described in United States Patent No. 2,657,593. When a value has been set in the device of the patent, it will, during a printing cycle of operation, produce rotation of a gear 57 on a shaft 52 and through an intermediate gear 53 will drive the gear 38 of the differential numeral wheel Mi. The shaft 52 is also driven by the power driven gear 50 shown in Fig. 1.

In order that the numeral wheel 10 of lowest denomination may be like the other numeral wheels it its gear 34 is permanently locked in position by a dog 63.

The numeral wheels 10a, which are at the upper side of the bank and which have no differential mechanism, are operated for transfer purposes by each having a gear 64 meshing with a gear 44a of the transfer mechanism, the gears 44a and 64 having a ratio of 2:1. When the gear 44a moves 72 the numeral wheel 10:: will be moved 36 or one increment.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

What is claimed is:

1. A register mechanism having a plurality of numeral wheels each having transfer gear teeth associated therewith; each numeral wheel having a main driving gear and a transfer driving gear and differential gearing between said driving gears and the numeral wheel whereby the latter may be driven by either of said driving gears while the other is being held against turning at a predetermined rate or by both said main driving gear and transfer driving gear rotating simultaneously at twice said predetermined rate; and transfer mechanism between a numeral wheel of lower order and a numeral wheel of next higher order to transfer to the latter a full increment of movement and including means to lock the transfer driving gear of the numeral wheel of higher order against turning in both the 9 position and the 0 position thereof, said locking means including cooperating Geneva lock elements on the numeral wheel of lower order and on said transfer mechanism movable relatively to unlocking position only when the numeral wheel of lower order moves idly a determinate extent past 9 position and to locking position when said numeral wheel moves idly a determinate extent before it reaches its 0 position, the gear ratio between the transfer gear teeth of the numeral wheel of lower order and the transfer driving gear of the numeral wheei of higher order being such asto compensate for .said idle movements of the numeral wheel of lower order and to impart to the numeral wheel of higher order a full increment of movement.

2. In a register having numeral wheels, a transfer mechanism including cooperating Geneva lock elements on a numeral wheel of lower order and on said transfer mechanism movable relatively to unlocking position only when the numeral wheel of lower order moves idly a determinate extent past 9 position and to locking position when said numeral wheel moves idly a determinate extent before it reaches its position; and transfer gear teeth on the numeral wheel of lower order and the transfer driving gear of the numeral wheel of higher order, the gear ratio between said teeth and said transfer driving gear being such as to compensate for said idle movement of the numeral wheel of lower order and to impart to the numeral wheel of higher order a full increment of movement.

3. A register mechanism having a plurality of numeral wheels each having transfer gear teeth associated therewith; each numeral wheel having a main driving gear and a transfer driving gear and differential gearing between said driving gears and the numeral wheel whereby the latter may be driven by either of said driving gears while the other is being held against turning at a predetermined rate or by both said main driving gear and transfer driving gear rotating simultaneously at twice said predetermined rate; transfer mechanism between a numeral wheel of one order and a. numeral wheel of next higher order including a pinion intermittently operated by the transfer gear teeth of the numeral wheel of lower order, and a coupler gear driven by said intermittently operated pinion and engaging the transfer driving gear of the numeral wheel of higher order; and cooperating Geneva lock elements on the numeral wheel of lower order and connected to its transfer pinion arranged to lock the transfer pinion, coupler gear and transfer driving gear of higher order when the numeral wheel of lower order is in its 9 position and 0 position and after idle movement to cause the transfer pinion, coupler gear and transfer driving gear of higher order to be unlocked when the numeral wheel of lower order has passed its 9 position and relocked before it reaches its 0 position, the gear ratio between the transfer gear teeth of the numeral wheel of lower order and the transfer driving gear of the numeral wheel of higher order being such as to compensate for said idle movement of the numeral wheel of lower order and to impart to the transfer driving gear of the numeral wheel of higher order a full increment of movement.

4. A registering mechanism having a plurality of numeral wheels and associated operating gears; a shaft supporting said numeral wheels and said gears; transfer mechanism including a second shaft mounted in spaced parallel relation to said numeral wheel shaft and an intermittently operated coupler gear mechanism including a Geneva lock device between each adjacent pair of numeral wheels, said coupler gear mechanisms being mounted on said second shaft in frictional engagement therewith; and means for rotating said second shaft in the direction of, and during, the rotation of said coupler gear mechanisms whereby the latter are frictionally urged to complete their intermittent movement and take up lost motion due to tooth clearance between said gears associated with the numeral wheels and those of the coupler gear mechanisms.

5. A registering mechanism having a plurality of numeral wheels, main and transfer operating gears and difierential gearing connected to each said numeral wheel whereby the latter may be operated to register and receive a transfer at the same time; a shaft supporting said numeral wheels and said operating gears; transfer mechanism including a second shaft mounted in spaced parallel relation to said numeral wheel shaft and an intermittently operated coupler gear mechanism including a Geneva lock device between the numeral wheel of lower order and the transfer gear associated with the numeral wheel of higher order, said coupler gear mechanisms being mounted on said second shaft in frictional engagement therewith; and means for rotating said second shaft in the direction of, and during, the rotation of said coupler gear mechanisms whereby the latter are frictionally urged to complete their intermittent movement and take up lost-motion due to tooth clearance between the numeral wheels of lower order, the coupler gear mechanisms, and the differential of the numeral wheel of higher order.

6. A registering mechanism having a plurality of numeral wheels and associated operating gears; a first shaft supporting said numeral wheels and said gears; transfer mechanism including a second shaft mounted in spaced parallel relation to said numeral wheel shaft and an intermittently operated coupler gear mechanism between each adjacent pair of numeral wheels, said coupler gear mechanisms being mounted on said second shaft in frictional engagement therewith; and means for rotating said first shaft and said second shaft in the direction of, and during, the rotation of numeral wheels and said coupler gear mechanisms respectively whereby the same are frictionally urged to complete their intermittent movement and take up lost-motion due to tooth clearance between said gears associated with the numeral wheels and those of the coupler gear mechanisms.

7. A register mechanism having a plurality of numeral wheels each having transfer gear teeth associated therewith; each numeral wheel having a main driving gear and a transfer driving gear and differential gearing between said driving gears and the numeral wheel whereby the latter may be driven by either of said driving gears while the other is being held against turning at a predetermined rate or by both said main driving gear and transfer driving gear rotating simultaneously at-twice said predetermined rate; and transfer mechanism between a numeral wheel of lower order and a numeral wheel of next higher order to transfer to the latter a full increment of movement and including means to lock the transfer driving gear of the numeral wheel of higher order against turning in both the 9 position and the 0" position thereof a shaft for supporting the numeral wheels for rotation, another shaft supporting the coupler gear mechanism, and means for rotating each of said shafts in the direction of, and during, the rotation of numeral wheels and said coupler gear mechanisms respectively whereby the same are frictionally urged to complete their intermittent movement and take up lost-motion due to tooth clearance between said gears associated with the numeral wheels and those of the coupler gear mechanisms.

8. The register as defined in claim 1, in which there is a shaft for supporting the numeral wheels for rotation, another shaft supporting the coupler gear mechanism, and means for rotating each of said shafts in the direction of, and during, the rotation of numeral wheels and said coupler gear mechanisms respectively whereby the same are frictionally urged to complete their intermittent movement and take up lost-motion due to tooth clearance between said gears associated with the numeral wheels and those of the coupler gear mechanisms.

9. The register as defined in claim 2, in which there is a shaft for supporting the numeral wheels for rotation, another shaft supporting the coupler gear mechanism in cluding said transfer pinion and Geneva lock element, and means for rotating each of said shafts in the direction of, and during, the rotation of numeral wheels and said coupler gear mechanisms respectively whereby the same are frictionally urged to complete their intermittent movement and take up lostmotion due to tooth clearance between said gears associated with the numeral wheels and those of the coupler gear mechanisms.

Hopkins et a1. Oct. 8, 1918 Rast Nov. 7, 1950 

